Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Women of Diverse Cultural Backgrounds

Women with diverse backgrounds provide an added value to the entrepreneurial sphere in Belgium. Our focus is to continue helping you to start or grow your business by connecting you with a network of professionals and organizations that can support to fully valorize your entrepreneurial potential.

The Bootcamp is structured in three modules*:

Day 1- Administrative & Financial Skills: learning about the cultural diversity and business environment in Belgium, administrative and legal requirements, and – most importantly – funding opportunities for female launching entrepreneurs;

Day 2- Business Skills: hands-on business training to clarify the vision, identify limiting beliefs, design the business using the Lean methodology and draft strategic planning for achieving the goals;

Day 3- Digital Skills: learn how to use digital marketing to optimize your online presence, but also digital tools to manage your online business;

Following the entrepreneurship Bootcamp, participant women can benefit from personalized advice on what are the next steps in growing their business from our team of experts.

The Bootcamp will take place between 17-19 June 2021 as half-day sessions, followed by a light networking lunch.

Agenda

Day 1, 17 June 2022 - Administrative and Financial Skills

09:30- Welcome coffee

• Introduction
• Cultural diversity in the business environment in BE and self-assessment
• Break
• Becoming a freelancer in Belgium, tips to optimize your taxes and a presentation of Accountable, an app that allows you to manage your accountancy on your own
• Belgian Funding schemes for migrant entrepreneurs

13:30- 14:00 Feedback, Networking and Light Lunch

Trainers: Wendy Agyin, Heleen Willemsen and Jasper Verreydt

Day 2 , 18 June 2022 - Business Skills

09:30- Welcome and Coffee

• Introduction
• Clear vision and identify timing beliefs
• Business Design
• Strategic Planning

13:30-14:00 Feedback, Networking and Light Lunch

Trainer: Asada Madikane

Day 3, 19 June 2022- Digital Skills

On this day it is advisable to bring your computer.

09:30- Welcome and Coffee

• Introduction
• How to make an e-commerce website
• Break
• Digital marketing

13:30-14:00 Feedback, Networking and Light Lunch

Trainers: Liliana Carrillo and Jessica van Dop DeJesus

*The modules of the Bootcamp are structured so that they offer a comprehensive overall understanding of how to start and grow a business in Belgium. The participant can attend all three days or only one, in accordance with each participant’s interest.

** In the event you are not able to join the session you selected, please contact us and let us know at least 5 days in advance so that your ticket is transferred to another participant.

Frequently Asked Question:

Who can participate the Athena Entrepreneurship Bootcamp?

The Bootcamp is dedicated to third-national women* migrants - that is women that have migrated from countries outside the European Union – who are entrepreneurs or interested in opening a business activity in Belgium.

Places to the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp are limited and applications will be accepted in the order of registration.

What is the price for participation to the Bootcamp?

The participation to the Bootcamp is FREE of charge, but registration is mandatory. If a registered participant cannot attend, it is kindly requested to inform the organizers two days in advance.

I am a second-generation migrant, can I participate?

Yes, second-generation women migrants can participate to the Bootcamp.

I am not a third-national citizen, I have an EU nationality and I migrated to Belgium, can I participate?

The Bootcamp is dedicated to third-national women migrants, but if places will remain available we will also welcome (aspiring) entrepreneurs migrating from EU countries.

Do I need to be an established entrepreneur to join the Bootcamp?

No, women who are not registered as freelancers or business owners in Belgium can also participate. Any women aspiring future entrepreneurs are welcome.

I have a loose business idea, can I still participate?

Yes, the purpose of the Bootcamp is to support you with the knowledge, skills and network to develop your idea into a viable business project.

I can’t participate in the entire Bootcamp, but I am interested in a specific session, can I still register?

Yes. The modules of the Bootcamp are structured so that they offer a comprehensive understanding of how to start and grow a business in Belgium, but they can also be attended independently in accordance with each participant’s interest.

I am not able to participate in person, will the Bootcamp also take place online?

The Bootcamp will be only organized in-person to support the connection between women entrepreneurs into a real community, BUT all the materials of the different workshops will be available online after the Bootcamp, in several languages and they can be downloaded free of charge.

Is there an age limit?

All women 16+ aspiring to be future entrepreneurs are welcome to the Bootcamp.

I am not available to participate anymore, do I need to cancel my ticket?

YES, WE WOULD HIGHLY APPRECIATE IF YOU CANCEL YOUR TICKET OR SEND US A MESSAGE TO LET US KNOW. Organizing the event involves preparing materials and ordering catering for each participant, and knowing how many participants will attend helps us not wasting any resources. Also your spot will be given to another woman that is available to participate.

*Anyone who identifies as a woman.